I had the honor to take part in an intensive, four-week residential training program at the University of Pretoria with a wonderful group of students from around the world. We gained extensive insight into the needs of people affected by conflict, disaster, and displacement. I now have an awareness and understanding for effective service in emergency and protracted humanitarian crisis. I’m excited about the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead and I’m eager to contribute all that I have learned. I’m grateful for this unique opportunity.
Nancy Bernard
IDHA 58 Pretoria, South Africa cohort
Through the MHCE course, I have gained invaluable insights into the complexities of providing mental health support in challenging environments, particularly emergency settings.
Rafiullah Khalil
MHCE 2023
Over the course of four intensive weeks, we learned about a wide range of humanitarian assistance issues (UN humanitarian system, IHL, Education, WASH, Health…) from active and former United Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross – ICRC, INGOs, and local NGOs practitioners and independent experts. This comprehensive overview of the humanitarian sectors was complemented by a set of soft skills lectures, focusing on team building and leadership.
“If I had to choose which has been the major lesson I learned after this Diploma is the need for the humanitarian sector to be more self-critical. Is the way we operate the most efficient and effective according to the current needs and gaps? How can we better engage with development and peacebuilding actors? How can we ensure sustainability if not by actively involving national and local responders in each humanitarian intervention?
Joel Orozco Alfonso
IDHA 57 Amman, Jordan cohort
Assistant Provost for Corporate Relations at Fordham University
Holly Curtis is an accomplished education leader, currently serving as the Assistant Provost for Corporate Relations at Fordham University. In this role, she fosters partnerships between academia and industry, driving innovative collaborations and advancing strategic goals. Prior to this, Holly was the Chief of Staff at Ascend Public Charter Schools, where she oversaw strategic planning for one of New York’s largest charter networks, and she also led MBA Admissions at NYU Stern School of Business.
With a strong background in strategic leadership, education management, program development, and recruitment, Holly’s career began in international development with Pencils of Promise in Laos. Her work there shaped her expertise in strategic planning and talent development.
Holly holds an MBA from NYU Stern and a BA in International Political Economy from Fordham University. She is deeply committed to advancing diversity and inclusion, and is a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). She is also an alumna of NYU’s Global Inclusive Leadership Management Institute.
Helen Hamlyn Humanitarian Fellow and Global Program Director
In 2010, Martine joined the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she has held various policy, coordination and diplomatic positions, including assignments in Afghanistan and Jordan. She has also worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Myanmar, focusing on protection and water and habitat programmes in remote areas. From Amman, Jordan, she served as Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Netherlands Government, covering humanitarian developments and crises across the Middle East. Martine continues her work with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Strategic Policy Advisor on Humanitarian Affairs.
Alongside her work with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Martine has been involved with Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) for over 15 years. Since 2024, she has been involved as the Helen Hamlyn Humanitarian Fellow at the IIHA, where she has also held the role of Global Program Director, contributing to the development and delivery of international humanitarian education and training programmes. She has also served as Course Director of the International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA) and lectures at Fordham University and Delft University of Technology.
Martine holds a Master of Science in Architecture from Delft University of Technology and a Master of Arts in International Humanitarian Action from Fordham University.
She co-hosts Corporate Humanity, a podcast produced by Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs.
Master of Science in Architecture (MSc) and Master of Arts in International Humanitarian Action (MIHA) and IDHA 24
With the IIHA since: 2008
Current courses: IDHA and non-academic courses
In my free time I enjoy: Outside of work, Martine is a passionate cyclist and runner who enjoys endurance sports and ultraraces. She is also a qualified sports massage therapist.
“In a world you can be anything, be kind to yourself and the people you work for and with. ”